A recent study out of the University of Pittsburgh found that “people who, as children, had undergone surgery removing half of their brain correctly recognized differences between pairs of words or faces more than 80% of the time. Considering the volume of removed brain tissue, the surprising accuracy highlights the brain’s capacity – and its limitations – to rewire itself and adapt to dramatic surgery or traumatic injury.” This study is the “first-ever attempt to characterize neuroplasticity in humans and understand whether a single brain hemisphere can perform functions typically split between the two sides of the brain” and provides valuable insight into the brain’s capabilities which can be used to understand what happens as the brain ages.